Next: Specialist Hoedown

So, the urologist put his case this morning: rising PSA, suspected bulge in the right hemisphere of the prostate which may be the prelude to nasty spread of the cancer, cancer of some type found all over the right hemisphere: therefore, time to treat. Of course, I've been resisting treatment for the past three years since the "side effects" of a 50% chance of impotence and messed up urinary function for the next two years (at least) have not been palatable.

But the side effects are better than the pretty ugly death that I say my friend Bill go through (they diagnosed him too late) and I don't see any miracle treatment coming down the pike for at least two to three years (and I've been looking hard). So even though I could put things off for a while more, I guess that it's time to go to the treatment hoedown.

Of the available treatments, I'm thinking that the radioactive seeds may be the best way to go. It's the least invasive (the operation is done as an out-patient procedure) and it has about the same stats for side effects as surgery, and it has the potential for giving me super-powers if those Spiderman comics are really true.

Next step: talk to the Radiation Guy at Mass General and then, probably, set a date. And alaman-left.

Comments

[Marshall T. Spriggs]

Thanks, guys. The Fates have decided that I probably should be allowed to have children anyway.

Thanks for the encouragement. Everyone seems to have examples of people who've gone through this without a problem, but it seems that no one has an example of a situation where things really messed up. Curious.

[Printha]

The radioactive seeds are the treatment that my step-father opted for. I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you about the procedure, the side-effects and general experience. From what I remember, you won't be allowed to have children or pregnant women sit on your lap for several months. You'll have to skip being a mall Santa this year. :P

[Steve Shannon]

My dad had great success with the seeds at 80 years of age and has weathered them very well. Hope you have the same success. Thinking of you.